NFL Week 2 Picks 2026: Predictions Against the Spread for All 16 Games

One week in the books, and Week 1 delivered some real data: Chicago hung 59 on Carolina, Seattle survived losing Sam Darnold to a hip injury mid-game, and Patrick Mahomes looked like himself in his first start back from a torn ACL. Here’s a spread pick for all 16 Week 2 games, lines via DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 14 — check current numbers before you bet, since a few of these have already moved once this week.

At a Glance

Thursday, Sept. 17

Lions at Bills — Lions +3

Detroit needed overtime to put away a Saints team that finished 2025 in a rebuild, and that’s worth remembering before you lay points with Buffalo here. The Bills won their opener 36-31 but gave up 31 to a Texans defense that was supposed to be the stingy side of that matchup — this isn’t the same lockdown Buffalo defense from a couple years back. Jared Goff and that Lions receiving corps (182 yards from Chris Olave alone in Week 1) can hang enough points to cover a field goal on the road. Buffalo’s opening a new stadium too, which adds some unknowns of its own.

Sunday, Sept. 20

Panthers at Falcons — Falcons -1.5

Neither team won last week, but the way they lost matters. Carolina got run off the field 59-37 by Chicago — that’s a defense with real issues. Atlanta lost a competitive one to Pittsburgh, 20-13, and gets to host a Panthers team it should handle at home. Small number, lean the better process.

Jaguars at Broncos — Jaguars +2.5

Jacksonville looked like the most complete team in Week 1, throwing four touchdowns in a 34-10 win over Cleveland. Denver, meanwhile, got run off its own field by Kansas City, 31-10, in a game that wasn’t as close as the final even suggests. I don’t love laying points with a team coming off a performance like that, division or no division. Take the field goal with Jacksonville.

Raiders at Chargers — Raiders +6.5

Las Vegas went into Miami and won a road game the way you want to — Ashton Jeanty topped 100 yards on the ground — while the Chargers just got upset at home by Arizona, 26-14. A team coming off a letdown loss laying a touchdown-plus is exactly the number I want to fade. Take the points.

Commanders at Cowboys — Commanders +3.5

Both teams are 0-1, and honestly both losses were close — Washington fell by two to Philadelphia after a failed two-point try, and Dallas lost by eight at home to the Giants. I don’t see enough separation here to lay a field goal and change, especially with Jayden Daniels getting a second look at this Dallas defense. Take the points.

Dolphins at 49ers — 49ers -12.5

San Francisco didn’t just beat the Rams in Melbourne, it beat them 27-7 — Brock Purdy was efficient, Christian McCaffrey looked completely healthy, and the defense held Los Angeles to a field goal into the fourth quarter. Miami lost 27-13 to a Raiders team that ran the ball at will. That’s a lot of points to lay, and it’s the one number on this board I’d trim down before betting the full amount — but if I’m picking a side, it’s still San Francisco.

Seahawks at Cardinals — Cardinals +4.5

Sam Darnold left the opener with a hip injury and Drew Lock closed it out, and there still isn’t real clarity on Darnold’s status for Sunday. That’s enough uncertainty that I don’t want to lay points on the road with a team that might be starting its backup quarterback, against a Cardinals team that just went into SoFi Stadium and beat the Chargers outright. Watch the injury report closely this week, but as of now, take the points.

Bengals at Texans — Texans -3

Cincinnati won a shootout, 33-27, but gave up 27 to a Tampa Bay offense that isn’t supposed to be explosive, and the Bengals’ defense has been a soft spot for years now. Houston lost a track meet of its own to Buffalo, 36-31, but that defense was last year’s best in the AFC and this feels more like a one-off than a trend. Give the field goal at home.

Browns at Buccaneers — Buccaneers -8.5

Cleveland’s offense scored 10 points against a Jaguars defense that isn’t even considered the top unit in its own division. Tampa Bay’s loss, meanwhile, came in a shootout where the issue was fumbles, not a lack of firepower. It’s a big number for a Week 2 game, but lay it.

Packers at Jets — Jets +4.5

Green Bay blew a 17-point lead and let Minnesota score 22 unanswered in the fourth quarter of its opener. That’s the kind of collapse that should make you think twice about laying points on the road the following week. New York, for what it’s worth, controlled the ball for nearly 39 minutes in a clean 23-10 win over Tennessee. Take the points with the Jets.

Vikings at Bears — Bears -5.5

Chicago hung 59 points and rushed for 289 yards in Week 1. That’s not sustainable every week, but it’s a real signal about where this offense is right now, and Minnesota’s defense just gave up nearly 40. Lay it at home.

Saints at Ravens — Ravens -8.5

Baltimore looked like the best team in the AFC North opening week — Lamar Jackson threw for 324 yards, Derrick Henry ran for 144, and they hung 41 on a Colts defense that wasn’t awful last season. New Orleans needed overtime just to lose to Detroit. This is a big gap between two teams. Lay it.

Eagles at Titans — Eagles -7

Philadelphia’s still the more talented roster even after a shaky performance where it needed a missed two-point conversion to survive Washington. Tennessee’s offense managed just 10 points and lost the time-of-possession battle badly against the Jets. I’ll lay the touchdown here, though it’s fair to say the margin for error with this Eagles team is thinner than it looked last year.

Steelers at Patriots — Steelers +5.5

New England lost its opener at home, and it wasn’t competitive in the way that matters — Drake Maye threw three interceptions against a Seahawks defense that’s going to be one of the better units in the league all year. Pittsburgh’s pass rush, led by T.J. Watt, is exactly the kind of matchup problem that could turn that trend into a bigger issue. Take the points on the road.

Colts at Chiefs — Chiefs -6.5

Indianapolis got run over by Baltimore in the opener, 41-23, and now travels to Arrowhead to face a Chiefs team that looked comfortable in Mahomes’ return, with Kenneth Walker III scoring twice in his Kansas City debut. Lay the number in prime time.

Giants at Rams — Giants +7.5

The Rams entered as a lot of people’s Super Bowl favorite and then got beaten 27-7 in Melbourne — not a competitive loss, a blowout, with long travel back added on top of it. New York just went into Dallas and won outright behind three touchdown passes from Jaxson Dart. I wouldn’t lay a touchdown-plus with the Rams off a performance like that. Take the points.

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 15 2026, and subject to change before kickoff. This content is for informational purposes only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.